Family isn’t just helping out by providing recipes for the dishes. They’re also helping out taking orders and preparing meals. Two of White’s sisters, a niece and a granddaughter pitch in each day. White said she’s grateful for all the support from her family, friends and church and for the many businesses who took White up on her sandwich offers, giving her the confidence to branch out on her own.

White doesn’t have any formal restaurant training, so she was proud to earn a 97 on her first health inspection. She would’ve had a 99 if she had taken the safe serving class that’s now something restaurants can lose points over. She’s planning to take that class soon, she said.

“That was a brave move. I get nervous when I think about it. You never know (what you can do) until you get out there and get your feet wet,” White said of jumping into the restaurant business. “We’re definitely just glad to be here.”

You can reach business reporter Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or follow @AmandaMemrick on Twitter.

BJ’s Grill has been open about a month. When she first started, she and her husband James would be at the restaurant at 3 a.m. to get ready for the day of cooking. Her husband no longer has to get up that early, but Becky White still gets to the restaurant early and stays until it closes.

“I kind of hurry around the kitchen, making sure they don’t change the recipe,” White said.

Each recipe is based on the home cooking that White grew up eating. The fried chicken in the chicken and waffles dish is based on her mom’s recipe. And it’s not just a few chicken tenders, either.

Family isn’t just helping out by providing recipes for the dishes. They’re also helping out taking orders and preparing meals. Two of White’s sisters, a niece and a granddaughter pitch in each day. White said she’s grateful for all the support from her family, friends and church and for the many businesses who took White up on her sandwich offers, giving her the confidence to branch out on her own.

White doesn’t have any formal restaurant training, so she was proud to earn a 97 on her first health inspection. She would’ve had a 99 if she had taken the safe serving class that’s now something restaurants can lose points over. She’s planning to take that class soon, she said.

“That was a brave move. I get nervous when I think about it. You never know (what you can do) until you get out there and get your feet wet,” White said of jumping into the restaurant business. “We’re definitely just glad to be here.”

You can reach business reporter Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or follow @AmandaMemrick on Twitter.